Manual Peeling Research Articles

Advances in peeling techniques for fresh produce

AbstractPeeling is a significant stage of post‐harvest processing of fruits or vegetables. The most adopted peeling methods are mechanical, steam, chemical, and manual peeling. Apart from these methods, some other methods such as enzymatic, infrared, and some methods like ohmic heating, ultrasound‐assisted lye peeling, and pulse electric field‐assisted steam peeling are also used. To concern the freshness of the product, manual peeling is the most ideal method but it consumes an inefficient amount of time and physical labor. Mechanical method consumes less time and under this process, the collected peel can be utilized in the by‐product stream. Lye peeling is an efficient method but the disposal of lye after the process is an environmental concern. Adjusting this system to include ultrasound, ohmic heating and CO2 laser drilling coupled with moderate electric fields can be used to reduce the lye requirement. Enzymatic peeling produces good quality products with low waste but can only be applied to fruits whose distinct separation of peel from the flesh is needed. PEF‐assisted steam peeling helps immensely in terms of cost‐saving by reducing the high use of steam. Infrared dry‐peeling only heats the superficial layer of fruits and possesses minimal effect in an edible inner portion of fruit. It uses less time with low peeling loss, high peelability, high peeling yields, thin skin is peeled‐off, but needs more research to justify industry implementation. In conclusion, the novel method assisted peeling can be used to save the time, environment, and quality of the fruit or vegetables.Practical applicationsPeeling is the primary post‐harvest process applies to the group of foods and it is crucial to have minimal damage to the products at this stage. For utilization of the peeling process in any processing, the knowledge of the all available and efficient peeling process for the individual fruit or vegetable is necessary. The main objective of the review is to outline the applicable current and novel peeling techniques for the commodities with their process conditions, mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages.

The eggshell membrane: A potential biomaterial for corneal wound healing.

The eggshell membrane (ESM) is an abundant resource with innate complex structure and composition provided by nature. With at least 60 million tonnes of hen eggs produced globally per annum, utilisation of this waste resource is highly attractive in positively impacting sustainability worldwide. Given the morphology and mechanical properties of this membrane, it has great potential as a biomaterials for wound dressing. However, to date, no studies have demonstrated nor reported this application. As such, the objective of this investigation was to identify and optimise a reproducible extraction protocol of the ESM and to assess the physical, chemical, mechanical and biological properties of the substrate with a view to use as a wound dressing. ESM samples were isolated by either manual peeling (ESM-strip) or via extraction using acetic acid [ESM-A0.5] or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA [ESM-E0.9]. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed that there were no traces of calcium residues from the extraction process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that the extraction method (acetic acid and EDTA) did not alter the chemical structures of the ESM and also clarified the composition of the fibrous proteins of the ESM. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed a three-layer composite structure of the ESM: an inner layer as continuous, dense and non-fibrous (limiting membrane), a middle layer with a network of fibres (inner shell membrane) and the outer layer (outer shell membrane) of larger fibres. Material properties including optical transparency, porosity, fluid absorption/uptake, thermal stability, mechanical profiling of the ESM samples were performed and demonstrated suitable profiles for translational applications. Biological in vitro studies using SV40 immortalised corneal epithelial cells (ihCEC) and corneal mesenchymal stromal cells (C-MSC) demonstrated excellent biocompatibility. Taken together, these results document the development of a novel sustainable biomaterial that may be used for ophthalmic wounds and/or other biomedical therapies.

Design and optimization of operating parameters for areca nut de-husker

Areca nut is one of the major commercial crops grown in South India. The raw areca nut has to be peal (de-husked) to get its nut. The manual peeling practice is laborious process and is not safe for labor. Manual de-husking is time-consuming, and there is a shortage of labor. The exisiting machines developed are not so capable to completely remove the outer layer of the areca nut due to the difference in the size of the area nut, and the areca nuts damaged due to the non-availability of the optimal process parameters, and they are expensive. Damaged areca nuts have lesser value in the market. This paper deals with the design and development of an areca nut de-husking machine which can de-husk areca nuts of different sizes without damaging it. The flow of paper starts with the definition of the problem, relevant need analysis, field survey, and literature survey based on these data areca nut de-husking machine designed. Finally, the factor effect study using the Design of Experiment (DOE) method is presented in this paper.

Effects of a DBD plasma discharge on bond strength

DBD plasma treatment of polymers for adhesion properties in a printing and lamination application is explored here. The ink-substrate adhesion is dependent on the plasma dosage (watt density). At too low treatment level, lower oxidation and inferior wetting behaviour, caused a delamination failure between the water-based ink and the polymeric substrate surface. The adhesion properties, measured in a manual peel test, were clearly improved at higher plasma dosage as a consequence of the greater wetting and oxidation. There was a clear relationship between treatment level (surface chemistry and surface energy) and adhesion properties discerned, which suggests that it is the Debye interaction forces between the polar functional groups that are contributing to the bond strength between the ink and the plasma-treated substrate.

Razvoj abrazivne multi roler mašine za ljuštenje Cassava krtola

A simple to operate, maintain and affordable multi-roller abrasive cassava peeling machine comprising a feed section, peeling chamber, abrasive surface, tuber discharge chute and waste peel chute was designed, fabricated and evaluated. The machine development was based on engineering standards and specification while considering crop, machine and operational factors to include the physical and mechanical properties of cassava tubers, abrasive property of peeling surface, material and speed of the machine. The machine was evaluated for performance with commonly used varieties NR 8082, 8083, 8208, 09/0581 and UMUCAS 38 having moisture content of 63.33%, 64.50%, 65.40%, 63.50% and 84.33% respectively. The performance evaluation results at a roller speed of 360rpm showed peeling efficiency of 91%, throughput capacity of 2.17kg/min, and a proportion by weight of peel of 0.9%. The cassava peeling machine fabricated, eliminated the drudgery, loss of time and tuber flesh encountered in manual peeling with better product quality when compared with the existing machines.

Cutter design and multi-objective optimization of machine for cable peeling

Cutter design and multi-objective optimization of machine for cable peeling is proposed to use mechanical peeling instead of manual peeling in this paper. First, the design of the machine for cable peeling includes executive mechanism, driving part for cable, driving part for executive mechanism, and peeling mechanism. Then, the cutting experiment platform is set up to verify the actual effect of cutting, and different cutting depths, cutting speeds and fixing cables methods are discussed by the cutting experiment platform. A numerical simulation method is proposed, and different cutting methods, cutting depths and cutting speeds for cutting different materials are discussed by simulation method. The results show that simultaneous cutting is better than sequential cutting. The results show a good agreement between the results obtained from the finite element modelling and experimental investigations. A theoretical reference is provided for subsequent structural improvement. Finally, multi-objective optimization of machine for cable peeling is realized. The aim of the optimization was improving the dimensional accuracy after cutting and reducing the deformation of the cut surface. Cutter thickness, cutter angle, and cutter material are used as optimization variables, and the final optimal solution is obtained. The cutter is manufactured according to the final optimal solution, experiment of cutting is performed, and good agreements were achieved between optimal solution and experiments. Comparing the final results with the initial results shows a significant improvement.

Effect of fungal fermentation on proximate composition and <i>in vitro</i> performance of agrowastes used in animal feed

Large quantities of agricultural wastes generated annually from the processing of agricultural produce are disposed of indiscriminately in the environment, thus contributing to environmental pollution. Value addition to cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) peels, and a mixture of yam (Dioscorea spp.) and plantain (Musa paradisiaca) peels, which accumulate during manual peeling will help reduce this environmental impact in addition to being a source of income. The effects of fungal fermentation on their proximate composition and suitability for use as enriched animal feed were thus investigated in this study. Cassava peel and yam-plantain peel mixture were each o fermented with Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma spp. at 32 oC at moisture content of 52% and 60% respectively for a week and the potential of the biomass was investigated in feeding trials of Wistar rats over a four-week period. After sacrifice, their sera and vital organs were analysed for key enzymes and metabolic products. It was observed that Aspergillus niger-fermented cassava peel (FCP) was the best treatment with increased protein content (from 6.73% to 19.3%) due to microbial biomass. While the carbohydrate content decreased following fermentation, the calorific value remained similar to that of the raw peel. No mortality was recorded in the experimental rats fed the FCP and standard commercial feed (CF) while 100% mortality was th observed by the 4th week in the control group fed unfermented cassava peel (UCP). Organ-body weight ratio and some biochemical parameters e.g. cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), urea of FCP-fed rats were similar to those of the CF group. Lower amounts of some markers e.g. aspartate transaminase (ALP) and alanine transaminase (AST) were observed relative to UCP group. This research demonstrates the potential of microbially-detoxified food waste to replace commercial feed as a cheap alternative with minimal undesirable physiological effects in the animal models.Keywords: Fungal Fermentation; Plantain Peel; Yam Peel; Food Wastes; Aspergillus niger; Wistar Rats

Effect of thermal shock process on the microstructure and peel resistance of single–sided copper clad laminates used in waste printed circuit boards

ABSTRACTEfficient pre-processing is essential to the mechanical recovery of waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs). In this work, a thermal shock pretreatment was utilized to damage the interface between metals and nonmetals of single-sided copper clad laminates (SSCCLs), which are usually employed as the base material of printed circuit boards (PCBs). The effects of three thermal shock treatment parameters—i.e., peak temperature, holding time, and thermal shock cycle times—on the adhesion strength of SSCCLs were evaluated by orthogonal experiments. Microstructures and peel resistance of SSCCLs before and after thermal shock were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 90° peel test, respectively. Our results showed that the impact of three major factors that influence liberation efficiency was in the sequence of peak temperature > shock cycle times > holding time. Furthermore, the optimal thermal shock level could be achieved when the peak temperature was 300°C with the soaking time of 30 min and three cycle times. In the meantime, the corresponding peel strength of the SSCCLs (0.065 N/mm) was sharply decreased by 94% in comparison with those without thermal shock treatment. The manual dismantling experimental data verified the good feasibility of the optimal thermal shock process, suggesting that the copper foil could be readily dismantled from the substrate by hand after pretreatment, with a successful separation rate of 100% and a peeling efficiency of ~ 30 seconds per piece. Therefore, the optimal thermal shock process could notably improve liberation of metals and nonmetals, which would be helpful for efficient recycling of WPCBs.Implications: The interface between copper foil and laminate dielectric in a PCB can be weakened significantly via efficient thermal shock method. Thus, a good liberation could be achieved after thermal shock. In this work, a manual peeling of copper foil from the SSCCL substrates was achieved efficiently after optimal thermal shock pretreatment, confirming the feasibility of a shorter process of metal recovery from scrap SSCCLs without pulverization. The results will be useful for the pretreatment of recovery of the WPCBs.

Development of peeling machine for ginger, potato and sweet potato

In India agriculture is the most important sector for their economy.Agriculture area of India is tropical so several tropical crops are cultivated like fruit and vegetable, from tubers and roots below the surface of the soil. In this tuber and root crop major crops are potato, sweet potato, beet, ginger and other. Being high level of heterogeneity in the structure. Peeling processes face a numerous problems. The root and tuber crops are produced in significant amount in India and world. This project is aimed at a development in mechanization of peeling systems for the root and tuber crops in food processing related industries and at house hold. The peel of ginger, potato and sweet potato’s removed by many methods like manual or mechanical are most popular methods. The work of project performance is compare to the manual peeling. Consider this problems and develop the peeling machine, also consider their physical properties of ginger, potato and sweet potato. Mechanical peeling compares with a time of manual peeling In this project mechanical peeling are examine the three different rpm, they are 80 rpm, 100 rpm and 120 rpm to peel the ginger, potato and sweet potato. The perform evaluation of 80 rpm, 100 rpm and 120 rpm speed of disk on different time upto complete the peeling process. At that time increase the rpm more 20 rpm, this speed change the time of peeling less than 80 rpm and 100 rpm. This speed gate time less than 1 to 2 min.

Development of waterjet-assisted cassava peeler

The study aimed to develop a water jet-assisted cassava peeler and evaluate its technical performance in terms of peeling capacity, peeling efficiency, and tuber loss during peeling. Performance evaluation of the developed peeler included treatments which were the combinations of the three methods of peeling (use of circular nozzle, use of flat nozzle, and the manual peeling using a knife) and three diameter ranges of cassava roots (35 ± 5mm; 45 ± 5mm;55 ± 5mm). Results showed that the peeling capacity of the water jet-assisted peeler with circular nozzle was significantly higher than manual peeling but not significantly different to the water jet-assisted peeler with flat nozzle. The diameter of cassava roots used also significantly affected the peeling capacity of the different peeling methods; lower capacity for smaller diameter cassava roots and higher capacity for bigger diameter cassava roots.

Ultrasound-assisted lye peeling of peach and comparison with conventional methods

Abstract In the present study, ultrasound-assisted lye peeling (ULP) was applied in peaches (Prunus persica L. Batsch) and compared with other methods. Different lye concentrations, ultrasonic power density, peeling time and temperature were investigated during ULP process. To evaluate peeling effectiveness, peeled thickness, peeling loss, peach color and peeling performance score were determined. The effects of ULP on quality of peaches were also considered to determine the optimum peeling process. As a result, Lye concentration of 0.50 mol/L combined with a power density of 270 W/L for 90 s at 90 °C demonstrated the optimal peeling effectiveness. Compared with manual peeling, hot water peeling (90 °C, no lye), ultrasound-assisted hot water peeling (90 °C, no lye, 270 W/L) and lye peeling (90 °C, alkali concentration of 0.50 mol/L), ULP showed the highest peeling performance score accompanied with appropriated peeling loss and peeled thickness. The color, soluble solids and titratable acidity for ULP peaches showed slight difference from peaches peeled by other methods. Industrial relevance Traditional peeling methods especially LP not only led to excessive loss of pulp but also damaged the environment to a great extent. Ultrasound as a green technology enhanced mass transfer and heat transfer, further promoting the efficiency of peeling process. In this study, ULP showed higher peeling performance with reduced peeling time, and the peaches quality was guaranteed, demonstrating the potential of ULP as an alternative to conventional peach peeling methods.

Exploring the link between flexural behaviour of hemp and flax stems and fibre stiffness

Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) and flax (Linum Usitatissimum L) are the most commonly cultivated fibre plants in Europe. The use of their fibres covers a wide range of applications and requires a precise knowledge of their mechanical properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the contribution of fibres to the stiffness of flax and hemp dry stems subjected to bending during a simple three-point flexural test. The analysis is based on measuring the difference of bending stiffness between stems with fibres and stems without fibres after removal by manual peeling. Mechanical characterization shows that hemp and flax fibres contribute 54% and 71%, respectively, on average, to the flexural stiffness of a stem. Then, a microstructural analysis of stems is used to determine fibre distribution and geometry, which leads us to obtain longitudinal moduli of 33.9 ± 13.0 GPa and 55.8 ± 14.5 GPa for hemp and flax, respectively. These values are close to those obtained by tensile tests on elementary fibres (30.0 ± 13.3 GPa and 54.7 ± 13.2 GPa). These results encourage to propose the three-point bending test on stems as a standard test for the estimation of bast fibre stiffness.

Ultrasonic non-destructive testing of cardboard tubes using air-coupled transducers

Cardboard tubes are commonly used for industrial plastic film wrapping due to their low cost, high compression strength, reliability and low sensitivity to environmental changes. In order to guarantee the high radial compression strength during the manufacturing process, destructive testing such as manual peeling or non-destructive testing using acoustic impedance measurements are currently performed on a regular basis. In order to achieve a continuous quality control, automatic and non-contact inspection still need to be developed. In this paper, a method and apparatus for non-contact and rapid inspection of cardboard tubes is presented. The principle is based on the use of capacitive air-coupled transducers at frequencies below 20 kHz for generation and measurement of propagative flexural waves in a pitch-and-catch configuration. Sensitivity analysis is performed for different modes and damage types and is validated experimentally for four flaw types typically observed during the manufacturing process. Experimental validation of detection and flaw quantification is demonstrated using both amplitude and time-of-flight of wave packets at different frequencies, allowing automatic quality control of the manufacturing process.

Design of a Novel Two-Component Hybrid Dermal Scaffold for the Treatment of Pressure Sores.

The aim of this study is to design a novel two-component hybrid scaffold using the fibrin/alginate porous hydrogel Smart Matrix combined to a backing layer of plasma polymerized polydimethylsiloxane (Sil) membrane to make the fibrin-based dermal scaffold more robust for the treatment of the clinically challenging pressure sores. A design criteria are established, according to which the Sil membranes are punched to avoid collection of fluid underneath. Manual peel test shows that native silicone does not attach to the fibrin/alginate component while the plasma polymerized silicone membranes are firmly bound to fibrin/alginate. Structural characterization shows that the fibrin/alginate matrix is intact after the addition of the Sil membrane. By adding a Sil membrane to the original fibrin/alginate scaffold, the resulting two-component scaffolds have a significantly higher shear or storage modulus G'. In vitro cell studies show that dermal fibroblasts remain viable, proliferate, and infiltrate the two-component hybrid scaffolds during the culture period. These results show that the design of a novel two-component hybrid dermal scaffold is successful according to the proposed design criteria. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that reports the combination of a fibrin-based scaffold with a plasma-polymerized silicone membrane.

Design and Experiment of a Peanut Shelling Machine

Peanut is an important economic crop and there are strict requirements for the degree of damage to peanut seed, seed coat and germ, which are difficult to guarantee by an ordinary sheller. Manual operation often cannot satisfy modern agricultural production due to heavy labor intensity, low efficiency and work quality. For the above reasons, a suitable peanut shelling machine is needed to replace manual operation and conventional sheller. A peanut shelling machine has been designed, which imitated manual peanut peeling method. The mechanical structure of the peanut shelling machine consists of a frame, a feeding mechanism, a pneumatic gripper and peanut shelling positioning mechanism. The control system is composed of a MCU, LCD 12864 liquid-crystal display, and keys. Experimental results showed that, the peanut shelling rate is 20/min and the success rate is 92.3%. Furthermore, it provided a new approach to achieve automatic peanut shelling operation and well-satisfied agricultural production.

Characterization of Phoenix sp. natural fiber as potential reinforcement of polymer composites

The present work deals with the identification of a new natural fiber from the Phoenix sp. plant and their characteristics were studied for preparing the fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This fiber was extracted by simple manual peeling process. Physico-chemical and mechanical properties are studied according to the standards. The morphology of the fiber was studied by using scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are used to identify the crystallinity index and chemical groups present in the fiber, respectively. The fiber has an average diameter of 577 µm and density of 1.2576 g/cc. The cellulose, lignin, wax, ash, and moisture contents present in the fiber are 76.13%, 4.29%, 0.32%, 19.69%, and 10.47%, respectively. The crystallinity index was 57%. The Griffith model was used to obtain the average values of diameter and tensile properties of Phoenix sp. fiber. The maximum tensile strength and Young’s modulus were around 348.95 MPa and 7.62 GPa, respectively. The Phoenix sp. fiber properties were compared with the properties of existing natural fibers.

Global cell-by-cell evaluation of endothelial viability after two methods of graft preparation in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty

PurposeTo describe a novel method of global cell viability assessment for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and the comparison of two contemporary methods of donor tissue preparation.MethodsDMEK transplants were prepared...

Effect of Pre - treatments and Packaging on Shelf life of Minimally Processed Carrots

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of pre- treatments, packaging and cold storage on shelf life of minimally processed carrots. Carrots were prepared by manual peeling, cutting, slicing and shredding and pre -treated in 1% citric acid, ascorbic acid, potassium meta bisulphite, egg albumin and 0.5% potassium sorbate solutions for 30 sec. prior to packaging. Pre-treated carrot pieces were surface dried in atmospheric air and packed with a proportion of gases (5% oxygen, 15% carbon dioxide and 80% nitrogen) stored at 10°C. During storage, the chemical constituents and shelflife were analyzed. The results indicated that the whole peeled carrot without any pre - treatment had exhibited changes in the chemical constituents compared to other minimally processed carrots up to 45 days at 10°C.

Drying behaviour of unpeeled cashew kernels in steam assisted cross flow dryer

The performance of the steam assisted cross flow dryer employed in Indian cashewnut processing industry for drying unpeeled cashew kernels was assessed in terms of drying rate in relation to peeling efficiency. The rate of removal of moisture from unpeeled cashew kernels significantly varied with the location inside the dryer. Cashew kernels placed in close proximity to heat exchanger showed faster diffusion of moisture than other locations inside the dryer. Moisture content of unpeeled cashew kernels was reduced to less than 3.0 per cent (d.b) in the beginning i.e. first 3 hr of drying and reached below 1.0 per cent (d.b) after 9 hr of drying from the initial moisture content of 7.0 per cent (d.b). Movement of humid air towards outlet provided at the top of the dryer and circulation of hot air from bottom to top are the due reasons for the variation in the moisture from the unpeeled cashew kernels inside the dryer. Significant difference was found in the peeling efficiency of unpeeled cashew kernel dried up to 9 hr. Practically, moisture content of unpeeled cashew kernels reduced to 1.0 per cent after 9 hr of drying ensured manual peeling process better and kernels dried for 3 or 6 hr period could not attain the required moisture level to ease manual peeling. Total energy required to operate steam assisted cross flow dryer was found to be 16.49 per cent lesser than existing type of dryers in Indian cashewnut processing sector.

Relação entre os fatores de influência no projeto e a estrutura funcional de uma descascadora de mandioca

Tipicamente, a mandioca é comercializada na forma in natura, o que requer o descasque manual para posterior consumo humano. Atualmente, é crescente a comercialização da mandioca sem casca, pré-cozida e congelada, no entanto, o beneficiamento é realizado de forma artesanal. Este artigo trata do estudo da operação de retirada da casca e da entrecasca da mandioca, assim como dos demais fatores envolvidos, necessários à construção da base de conhecimentos requeridos para a definição conceitual da estrutura funcional, que expressa um equipamento a ser desenvolvido, destinado a este fim. Assim, o trabalho se delimita às fases iniciais do processo de projeto de produtos industriais. Nesse contexto, o objetivo é verificar se existe relação entre os fatores de influência na operação de descasque e a estrutura funcional de uma descascadora de mandioca. A metodologia empregada baseia-se no modelo de referência para o processo de desenvolvimento de máquinas agrícolas, com foco nas atividades concernentes às fases de projeto informacional e conceitual. Os resultados obtidos definem que a análise da operação de descasque, o conhecimento do sistema de cultivo e do processo operacional, as interferências e limites, os requisitos energéticos, o clima, ambiente e a planta são fatores de influência determinantes para a definição completa da estrutura funcional do equipamento. A função global "retirar a casca e a entrecasca da mandioca" se desdobra em quatro funções parciais, as quais decompõem-se em treze funções elementares. Destas, dez funções derivam-se diretamente dos fatores de influência identificados inicialmente. Com isso, verifica-se a existência de relação entre os fatores de influência no projeto e a estrutura funcional do descascador de mandioca, demonstrando dependência entre as definições feitas no início da fase de projeto informacional e as atividades da fase de projeto conceitual, responsáveis pela definição linguística do funcionamento do equipamento e de suas interdependências.